Letters: Prop. B, Chick-fil-A, CEQA, cartoon

Union-Tribune

Bypass action an abuse of power

“A victory for San Diegans’ rights” (Editorial, Aug. 1) makes the argument for the unions and the Public Employment Relations Board. “The truth is the City Council would not have approved the changes required by Proposition B. Knowing that, Mayor Jerry Sanders and council members Carl DeMaio and Kevin Faulconer, along with outside supporters, properly bypassed the council to have Proposition B drafted.”

Lest you believe public employees (your servants) have no rights, collective bargaining laws were developed to protect the rights of employees. “Bypassing” the rules violates these rights.

The actions of the mayor and members of the City Council who participated in drafting, raising money and campaigning for the proposition, were an abuse of the initiative process and a bypassing of the law. There is no victory in abusing the power of an elected office and ignoring the rule of law. San Diegans’ lose when the rights of their employees are violated, regardless of the reasons. -- Steve McMillan, retired police officer, Rancho Peñasquitos

Let’s get the facts straight and make this simple: Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy made some remarks to a Baptist newspaper that were based on his personal opinion about gay and traditional marriage, which according to the U.S. Constitution, he has the perfect right as a private citizen to make. He also has the right to donate funds to any charity or cause he chooses. If you don’t agree with him, you can make a statement of protest by not spending your money at his restaurant chain. This is the American way of making or breaking a business and making your voice known.

I have never heard of a Chick-fil-A restaurant barring their doors or refusing service to anyone that is gay or anyone of color, or for any other unlawful reason.

If anyone has witnessed discrimination of this sort, then Chick-fil-A should be run out of town. -- Leslie Hopkins, Spring Valley

Regarding Matthew T. Hall’s story (“Chick-fil-A stance feeds crowd’s zeal,” Aug. 2): How was it decided that those who oppose same-sex marriage are Christians and those who promote it are just supporters of same-sex marriage? There are citations in the Bible that indicate an acceptance of same-sex relationships and the Jesus that I learned about in Sunday school was devoted to tolerance.

I will no longer accept attaching the label “Christian” to people who act in an unChristianly manner and will instead refer to them with the more accurate label of “religious extremist.” -- Laurel Moorhead, San Diego

CEQA being abused

Kathryn Phillips’ piece (“Environmental regulations keep state golden,” July 25) represents more of the same all-or-nothing, entrenched political fighting that is paralyzing the state and frustrating so many. It’s obstinate to suggest that we shouldn’t consider updating a 40-year-old law to integrate it with the comprehensive body of environmental laws adopted in California since its inception.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has and will continue to play a critical role in protecting the environment. Unfortunately, self-interested adversaries are abusing CEQA to block environmentally desirable projects – infill housing, renewable energy and transit-oriented development – and to halt vital community renewal and job-creation projects that are desperately needed.

Cartoon offensive

I find it very unsettling that Steve Breen and the U-T find humor in insulting a large percentage of our community (Cartoon, July 29). I have dedicated the past six years trying to educate and offer hope to children and families impacted by mental illness. Breen’s jokes perpetuate stigma on people with mental illness and can impart shame, fear and hopelessness to many.

Has he thought about how young people seeing this type of cartoon might live in fear that they would become a mass murderer – or that the parent of a child with mental illness might have the same fear? Has he thought about how the consequences of his attempt at a joke might impact how society looks at a person with a mental illness? Based on the known percentage of people with a mental health diagnosis, Breen likely has family and friends who might be offended by his attempt at humor.

The Aurora case was an isolated incident and we don’t even know if it was caused by Mr. Holmes’ mental illness. Please refrain from publishing any further poison that could harm the people of San Diego County. -- Dixie Crane, Mental Health Systems, San Diego